The Stephen Drew saga continued on Tuesday, as reports surfaced that four teams are "in" on the shortstop.
Stephen Drew continues to attract suitors despite still remaining unsigned, as four teams are reportedly "in" on the shortstop, according to ESPN's Jim Bowden.
Per Bowden's report, the Red Sox and Mets, the two teams most often linked to Drew this winter, are still interested in Drew's services, while two other unknown teams are also vying for the 30-year-old. As has happened with other free agents, the draft pick compensation attached to Drew has stalled his market this offseason.
The left-handed hitting shortstop signed a one-year, $9.5 million contract with the Red Sox in 2013 to help rebuild his value after suffering through an injury-plagued campaign in 2012. The strategy worked in some ways, as Drew remained healthy and hit .253/.333/.443 with 13 home runs for Boston last season and also contributed strong defense at shortstop.
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Despite his solid play in 2013, Drew has been unable to find the multi-year deal he had hoped for after rejecting a qualifying offer from the Red Sox back in November.
Multiple MLB teams have still shown some interest in Drew, however. Various reports have linked the Mets with Drew throughout the last six weeks, although as Andy Martino of the New York Daily News reported on February 5, they appear unwilling to commit to a multi-year deal for the shortstop.
After Ryan Dempster announced his decision to sit out the 2014 season (and save the Red Sox $13.5 million in the process), some speculated that the team would use the money to sign Drew. But, as Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal wrote on Sunday, Dempster's decision will likely have little impact on Boston's negotiations with Drew.
Scott Boras is no stranger to waiting out the market, as Kyle Lohse and other Boras clients have signed deals with MLB clubs well into the offseason in years past. Nevertheless, Drew's ultimate ability to land a multi-year deal, whether from the Red Sox, the Mets, or another team, is far from certain.
He might have impressed in 2013, but with no teams in desperate need of a shortstop and the draft pick compensation attached to him, Stephen Drew's options are limited.
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